Saturday's Several

1. Recent reminders of the Lord's faithfulness: My old journals written in the thick of raising children, including so many prayers crying out to the Lord over all the normal trials of childrearing. Seeing now where He is answering those prayers, oh, to my wondering eyes. If I had been more sure of myself, I would not have prayed so much. God used my weakness to bring about His ends: His glory.

2. My heart leaping as we read aloud "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin", and the sweet words restating what I've clung to all these years: that godly character is the heart of True education and is strongest when taught in childhood. (An echo of what we had heard earlier from Lawrence Reed: Good character leads to sound policy -- in any area.)

3. Looking across the room as we read those words in Franklin's book, at my friend, and knowing that she too was hearing it as I was: as a comfort that our labor has not been in vain.

4. That Christ sets an example for us by caring nothing for the opinions of men.

5. That Christ did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

6. That the man the Lord has given me as my "head" is wiser than any other.

7. That one more John Piper fan has joined the ranks and is requesting to borrow books!

8. That my joys and fears and hopes and failings are safely shared with my most trusted friend,my husband.

9. That while decay and scarcity are everywhere in this fallen world, there is still a pattern of fruitfulness and abundance that hasn't been lost, evident in two breathtaking backyard "secret gardens" that different friends have shown me in the past week. (If it had just been one, I might not have gotten the point.) The Lord promises that the fruitfulness and abundance win out -- all creation will be redeemed!

10. The chance to do transcripts again, and the great interviews I have gotten to listen to, including Walter Williams and Janet Parshall.

11. This particular journal entry: "June 5, 2002: We listened to Daddy on the radio. John Jr. said, "Don't you think that Daddy is the best employee at Coral Ridge -- even if he weren't our dad? Daddy doesn't just know a little about a lot -- he knows a LOT about a lot. And all the rest he knows a little about."